On the Hunt Stalking the top prize and 20 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points in Saturday’s $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes, Great White confidently asserted himself as the apex predator. Eager to put a fifth in January’s Leonatus Stakes – also at Turfway Park – in the rearview, the 3-year-old son of Volatile–Kelly Bag struck in the upper stretch and held firm against a game Fulleffort (2-1) for the win by a neck. Trained by John Ennis, who co-owns the gelding with Three Chimneys Farm, Great White’s first stakes badge came with a 15-1 billing. Now 2-0-0 with nearly $166,000 in prizes from three starts, Great White paid $32.32. Over the Goal Line A razor-sharp effort in Saturday’s $150,000 Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes earned local standout Touchdown Arkansas his first career stakes score. Testing the familiar confines of Oaklawn Park, the 5-year-old Bee Jersey chestnut let the race develop before seizing control in the final furlong and taking it to the house three-quarters-of-a-length clear. The impressive outing represented a complete one-eighty from Touchdown Arkansas’ stakes and professional debut – a ninth-place finish in the Rainbow Stakes on April 6, 2024. Up to 3-1-0 with $257,500 (six starts) banked for owner Lewis Mathews Jr., Touchdown Arkansas, at 4-1, paid $10. An Oath Upheld Baron Thoroughbreds’ colt Jack’s Promise kept his word with a dazzling upset victory in Saturday’s $125,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint at 11-1. Competing from post two with rider Rajiv Maragh aboard, Jack’s Promise made an early push for the lead but settled comfortably into second. Once in striking position, the 4-year-old son of Promises Fulfilled–Malibu Treasure found a seam and sped ahead for the uncontested three-length tally. No doubt a memorable stakes debut for Jack’s Promise, the bay, trained by Dale Romans, also cracked the $300,000 career earnings milestone (16: 6-3-0). He paid $24.80 as the fifth choice in the field of eight. Follow the Leader Taj Mahal, who led every step of the way in Saturday’s $100,000 Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Park, needed every ounce of energy to keep it that way at the wire. In just his second career start, the 3-year-old Nyquist colt was tasked with warding off a ferocious challenge from even-money favourite Let’s Go Lando, who followed in near lockstep for most of the one-mile contest. Taj Mahal never wavered, however, and held firm to reach the finish line a neck ahead. The nerve-testing tally completed a stakes sweep for the wife-husband trainer-jockey team of Brittany and Sheldon Russell, who captured the $100,000 Wide Country one race earlier with Peach Tie. Taj Mahal, at 2-1, paid $6.60. Wish Granted It’s not easy staying perfect five starts into a career, but that’s exactly what Gratefully did, while picking up her first stakes trophy, in the $100,000 Wishing Well, Saturday at Santa Anita. Coming off a smooth 3 ¾-length triumph in her season debut on January 8, also at Santa Anita, Gratefully’s maiden stakes appearance wasn’t nearly as low-stress. Teamed with rider Florent Geroux, the 4-year-old Laoban filly faced constant pressure from 5-2 foe Saratoga Special (IRE), but showed tremendous resolve to thwart every threat and reach the wire a head clear. Gratefully, as the even-money choice, paid $4. Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine Share This:Share
